Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01
April 1990 from one or more of thefollowing: raw data from U.S. Government agency
sources, correspondence withPOW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
Updated by the P.O.W.NETWORK May 1997

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: Commander John M. Leaver was assigned
as a staff officer to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group 7th Fleet. On May
8, 1972, he and Captain Edmund B. Taylor were passengers aboard a helicopter
attempting to make a night landing on the fantail of the USS PROVIDENCE
(CLG-6). The helicopter crashed and fell overboard.

Leaver and Taylor were both lost in the crash
and their remains were never located. They are listed with honor among
the missing because no remains were found. Their cases seem quite clear.

Captain Edmund B. Taylor, Jr., United States
Navy, at age 41, was Chief of Staff, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla
11 and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force Vietnam (CTF 75). Captain Taylor
was killed in a helicopter crash while returning to the flagship USS Providence
(CLG-6) on May 8, 1972 while coordinating the cruiser destroyer attack
on the Do Son Peninsula scheduled May 8-10 1972. Also killed in the crash
were Rear Admiral Robinson and Commander John Leaver, Jr.

Captain
Taylor, Joan, Stephen, Cynthia, Leslie and Ted

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Captain Taylor
attended high schools in Maryland and Virginia. Following high school he
attended the University of Hawaii and the United States Naval Academy,
graduating with the Class of 1953. Captain Taylor was the son of
Vice Admiral E. B. (Whitey) Taylor, USN (RET) and Mrs. Taylor of Virginia
Beach, Virginia. Vice Admiral Taylor was a 1925 graduate of the U.S. Naval
Academy.

Captain Taylor began his naval Career aboard
USS MACON (CA-132) where he served as CIC Division Officer and 5”/38 battery
officer. As a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) he was the Gunnery Officer
and later the Operations Officer of the destroyer USS BEALE (DDE-471).
Completing his tour in BEALE in 1956, Lieutenant Taylor next served as
Aide and Flag Secretary to Commander Cruiser Division TWO. Departing
Norfolk, Virginia in later 1958, Lieutenant Taylor reported to the U.S.
Naval Ordnance Missile Test Facility, White Sands, New Mexico and assumed
the duties of Fire Control Officer for the Talos Missile Project.
In the Spring of 1961 Lieutenant Taylor was the Weapons Officer in the
commissioning crew of the Mayport, Florida homeported guided missile frigate
USS LUCE (DLG-7) where he served until ordered to Norfolk once more as
Executive Officer of USS SAMPSON (DDG-10). In mid 1965, as a Lieutenant
Commander, he began a two year tour in the Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations and became the Assistant Head of the Special Weapons Branch,
Strategic Plans Division. For his work in Nuclear Weapons development
Lieutenant Commander Taylor was awarded the Secretary of the Navy Achievement
Medal. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in April 1966, and in July
departed Washington to attend the Resident Naval Warfare Course at the
Naval War College. Commander Taylor assumed command of the guided missile
destroyer USS BENJAMIN STODDERT (DDG-22) on July 21, 1967, in the Gulf
of Tonkin while the ship was employed in “Operation Sea Dragon.”
Commander Taylor was relieved in October 1969. Captain Taylor reported
to Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group ELEVEN as Chief of Staff to Rear Admiral
Robinson in 1971.

Captain Taylor was married to the late Joan
Pefley Taylor, daughter of Brigadier General A. R. Pefley, USMC (RET) and
Mrs. Pefley of Fall Church, Virginia. He is survived by four children,
Stephen D., Edmund B. (Ted) III, Cynthia R. and Leslie V. Taylor.
Posted:
6 May 2004 Updated: 27 August 2006